“The fieldwork is the nicest part of the job.” This is something most wildlife artists will tell you. But when you go looking for the big game, it becomes very frustrating when nothing shows up. I have taken long hiking trips in tremendous scenery where normally moose and elk should be seen. But sometimes, one can have one of those days when nothing works.

But…there will always be those marvelous little creatures — chipmunks and squirrels. They are always a delight to look at, and the forest would not be complete without them. Seeing one can make your day.

I just love the sound they make as well as their nervous behavior. It looks as if they really take life seriously, and when it comes to eating, they are real gourmets. The color of their coats really suits the forest scenery.

A painting like this one looks so very simple: a squirrel eating on a perch. But it expresses all my love for that wonderworld which is the forest with all its inhabitants, big and small.